In order to purchase a Michigan hunting license, all "hunters born on or after January 1, 1960 need a Hunter Safety Certificate. A Hunting Safety Certificate is earned by passing a hunter education course that is approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources."
Have your daughter take one of the hunter safety courses and sign up yourself and sit through it with her. Couple of nights of your time and it will pay off in the long run. I did this with my daughter and I have hunted bear in Maine (14 and 15 years old) and deer (16 years old) in Montana with her and I have never had to worry once about her making a fatal mistake with a rifle or bow. It was time well spent for me and you will not regret ever the time spent together with your daughter. They train these kids well... Having said all of that I do not remember having to give her or my sons social security number but I do know that at one time it was the licence number. That has been changed now. JohnV>
Thanks for the input.
"the idea behind this program is to give the non-experienced hunter a chance to go out and hunt for 2 years just to give it a try. that way they can decide if they like it or not before investing the cash on the course. While there is a HUGE safety concern about having someone in the woods that has not had the course"
I think I paid fifteen bucks for my kids each to get their certificate? It was money well spent but on the other hand someone who lives on a farm or in the country this may be ok when no one else is around. Take the same group of "aprentices" from inside the city that have been taught to shoot on a Play Station and let them walk the state and federal lands and the safety cushion is not there. Are they taught the simple things? I've had my legs sweeped by a loaded shotgun by both old timers I have hunted with and on the range while being taught to shoot trap. This is the reality that scares me over this apprentice thing I am trying to understand the logic behind. I have to think that this is not such a wise approach to training but I could be wrong about this and still trying to figure it all out...
Apprentice license might help recruit hunters
Mark Taylor
In the coming weeks, thousands of aspiring hunters will file into meeting rooms across Virginia for hunter education training.
It's an important, traditional and necessary right of passage in Virginia and many other states.
But it's also one that may be contributing to the steady decline in hunter numbers here and beyond.
The problem is time.
Most hunter education courses in Virginia run 12 hours.
Sometimes the instruction is spread out over four evenings. In other instances a class can take an entire Saturday and then half of the next day.
For people interested in hunting, the class material is engaging and the time goes fast.
The challenge is getting students to the class in the first place.
There's one big motivation to take the course in Virginia.
Hunter education certification is mandatory for hunters ages 12 to 15, and for first-time adult hunters.
For youngsters who have already been spending time hunting with a parent or other mentor, taking the class isn't a big inconvenience.
Chances are they are accustomed to spending long hours afield so they know the 12 hours is a relatively minor time investment in the big scheme of things.
Most importantly, there's a good chance they are already addicted to hunting and will do what it takes to maintain their privileges.
But for potential hunters who are on the fence, be they kids or adults, 12 hours is a scary number, especially when so many other activities and responsibilities are competing for that time.
I have a good friend who, unable to find the hunter education card he earned as a youngster, forfeited a hefty deposit on an elk-hunting trip out West because he was unable to find 12 hours to retake the course to earn the card he was required to show.
A growing number of states are recognizing the problem and taking action to address it with so-called apprentice hunting programs.
Generally speaking, the programs give first-time hunters the option of spending a season afield -- under close supervision of a mentor -- without having to take a hunter education course.
If they decide hunting is for them, they must obtain hunter education certification in order to continue hunting.
Such programs are not a silver bullet to solve the shrinking ranks of hunters, which nationally see only about seven hunters enter the sport for every 10 who leave.
Loss of hunting land through development and increased difficulty accessing hunting areas remain huge obstacles in the recruitment of new hunters, as does that competition for recreational time and money.
But the apprentice hunting programs are helping, which is why so many states are jumping on board.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which with partners the National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance is putting a lot of resources into its Families Afield campaign, 12 states have eased youth hunting restrictions since 2004.
Most have adopted some form of apprentice license.
Ohio is one of the states where the program is working.
In May, Steve Gray, the former chief of Ohio's Wildlife Division, was in Virginia to discuss the success of that state's apprentice hunting license program.
Speaking to a Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board committee, Gray said the program had boosted license sales by thousands.
Virginia game department officials are pursuing the idea but will need help. Such a change would require General Assembly action.
Now that the game department is actively looking into the idea, it's a pretty sure bet it will turn up next winter in Richmond.
As has happened elsewhere, anti-hunting activists will likely voice opposition.
They won't be able to cite safety concerns: Statistics prove that young hunters accompanied by mentors are the least likely of all hunters to be involved in accidents.
Unlike efforts to change another law that has been seen as an impediment to hunter recruitment in Virginia -- the ban on Sunday hunting -- this effort will probably go through.
As it should.
That is a dedicated group of guys if I have ever seen one and I tip my cap to them!!
Jon Stewart
Hunters Safety doesn't guarantee good decisions, I have been on the receiving end of downrange fire in the woods by people who have been in hunters safety programs. If guided properly, the positive impact of getting more people interested in hunting, or even just seeing our side of the hunting issue, in the long run can just benefit the hunting community.
Mark
Its a loaded gun with no safety pointed at some unfortunate statistic yet to be killed. When it finally happens, the wringing of hands and back peddling of this disasteouus program's supporters will be monumental.
The biggest folly, one can even minimalize the concept as folly, is this idea that the Mentor only has to be within some undescribed distance of his apprentices... YES.. that was plural.. the Mentor can take TWO untrained kids into the field at once... and he only has to be within seeing and visual distance.... 40 yards? Fifty yards? How is he to control two kids when a pheasant flies up between them?
Yeah... thats what I thought.... a whole bunch of silence from those who have no idea what they are talking about.
Im not afraid to speak up. This is a bad, bad decision..... it literally makes me sick to my stomach.... to think that Michelle McManus is more interested in expedient ways to get people outdoors by skipping over fundemental safety instruction. Unbelieveable.
Also my son and my brothers sons whom I mentor couldn't wait to attend hunter safety class.
And for what its worth... the idea of having to prove this is a bad idea by waiting for someone to get killed is un-necessary.
My feeble little brain tells me that firearms in the hands of two untrained ten year olds with a "mentor" somewhere close by is a recipe for trouble.
We dont let kids have pointy scissors, we dont let high school kids have butter knives in the school parking lots, we cant take a bottle of water on an airplane, but we can put 1000 foot pounds of energy in the hands of a child who's not big enough to ride the Roller coasters at Cedar Point and let em loose with minimal attention or instruction?
Great idea, guys...
Don't need to take hunters safety "ever" but can get a apprenticee license!!!! What a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
TL
This was a slap in the face to all the hunters saftey teachers and to folks that had waited to take the course and passed it.
Sign of the times?
For the record, the SCI bow chapter of SE Michigan has a youth hunter education program that takes place each year in Caseville. This hands on, weekend camp was the original blueprint for this "other guys" now inactive hunter education activity, as well as the sign post for our own MSC Camp Wilderness.
I have heard this other guy's views on putting guns in the hands of children, and he believes that there should be NO age limitations at all. The fact that he doesnt believe kids should get proper instruction before taking to the field with an apprentice license is not surprising to me.
This was long before apprentice and hunter safety programs. This shows what responsible hunting parents can teach their kids.
It would be interesting to find out where Susan Smith is today and what her hunting status is. Also was she honored in the new MBH book thats out?
Whoever Susan Smith is, I think its great that her dad taught her how to use a bow and hunt bear.
In 1963, there was no Hunter Safety requirement. Go back and look at how many hunters DIED every year in Michigan from the mistakes they made.. look at how many were injured.
Look at how many died three years ago in Michigan. Look at how many were injured.
Making a conclusion based upon one anecdotal success story like a Susan Smith is interesting, but not logical.
The statistics will demonstrate the value of certified firearms training. To overlook that is dangerous.
As far as my stance on the apprentice program, I am 100 % against it. As far as 10 yr olds in the woods with firearms goes I can give you the names of a half a dozen adults that do not belong in the woods with a weapon.
Jon Stewart
... my 5 year old has a little bow and when he shoots (from all of 10 feet from the target) we always work on properly handling his bow, being safe, etc.
"This was long before apprentice and hunter safety programs. This shows what responsible hunting parents can teach their kids."
You certainly are addressing the apprentice program, both in title and in content. Your lead in that displayed how a young 12 year old can hunt safely with no formal hunter training suggests that none is needed.
As for the Apprentice program itself... you need to go read the law and see what it allows. Ten year olds with firearms is allowed. Not in deer season, but my objection is all inclusive. Ten year olds with shotguns hunting small game is part of the package.. go look it up.
Giving me the names of a thousand adults who arent safe is no argument against protecting children and adults from untrained children caring live ammunition in the field.
If you feel like I jumped on you, dont feel like the lone ranger.. this bill is dangerous, and your comments suggested that if only a child is taught by a GOOD parent or Mentor, they will be safe... I fully agree... if a child is taught by someone who knows what they are doing, and knows the laws... It CAN be accomplished. Prior to mandatory hunter safety, we proved that it wasnt accomplished ENOUGH...further more.. even you were not aware of this law's reach.
Im not trying to pick on you, but this law is a death waiting to happen.. a needless, unnecessary one.
Jon Stewart
You didnt "simply" write about a 12 year old with no instruction except from her father.. you attached the apprentice program to your comments, which makes them "less than simple". I acknowledged that "some" dads have the ability and time and patience to teach their children well (apologies to CS&N)... but countered that the anecdote does not make the standard acceptable.
My list of people who should be in the woods with live ammunition include everyone who has taken and passed a Hunter Safety course. No more, no less...
Providing instant access to hunting via the Apprentice Program is a short sighted, dangerous ploy by legislators who dont understand Hunter Safety, firearm safety, or anything remotely related to the necessity of certified firearms training.
They just want to say we sold more licences, and that they are supporters of the outdoors... If they supported hunting, they would INSIST on proper education... but they are just play actors... with their own agendas...its politics...dontcha know...
I strongly disagree. My 10 year old grandson just took and passed Hunter Safety. He does not belong in the woods with a firearm. Too young. Our son is considering letting him hunt deer with a bow in the normal bow season and not the advanced season and that is only if he can shoot his bow well enough to hit the animal.
Being formal law enforcement and military, gun safety has been beat into my mellon. I inturn did the same to our son. An example of this. I got a good deal on a single shot 410 shotgun. Gave it to our grandson for Christmas. The gun has been locked up ever since he recieved it. My grandson grabbed the box of shotgun shells and showed them to his cousin. The grandson has been ground from the use of the gun for 6 months just for showing his shells off.
Jon Stewart
I wasn't taken to a spot and sat down to wait alone for God-knows how long while he sat somewhere else for his own purposes. While the intention of the youth hunt and apprentice hunter programs sound good on paper, I know from talking to kids that those things happen all the time. I also heard the story of a kid who was shaking so bad when a deer walked out during the youth hunt that their dad took the gun away and shot the deer "for" them. How desperate are we to get new young hunters that we are sacrificing our long-held values for the "cause"???
TL
Jon Stewart
The HS and IBEP courses were developed many years ago in conjunction with other strong pro-hunting states, so the material is basically standardized with instructor manuals and student handbooks. Firearms handling is a mandatory part of the class, but some facilities where the course are scheduled are not conducive to the discharge of firearms. For example, I have filled in a few times on the archery section of a local Hunter Safety course that were held in an urban high school (a few years ago....obviously). With homes on all sides, they didn't take kids out to the football field to toss clay pigeons or shoot .22's. ;^)
TL
Thats why I like the youth hunt.
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